PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 June 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

OPENING DAY SCENES. NEW LABOUR BILLS.

(Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, June 28. Another session of Parliament wa* opened to-day with the usual ceremony and also with everything else according to precedent. There were the usual questions but none without notice, as the Prime Minister refused to depart from precedent and answer them on the first day. It is a common belief that the only person to speak to Parliament on the opening day of the session is the Gov-ernor-General. This is quite an erroneous belief. Many members managed to make speeches to-day by simply beginning, “Mr Speaker, I beg to give notice that on the next question day, I will ask the Minister what he intends to do about such and such a subject.” Then will follow a brief statement of the facts as the hon. member

sees them and the remedy, stated in in terrogatory form, that he would propose There were several such speeches dealing with all manner of subjects. Mr Erase: asked what the Government intended t< do to relieve the present unemployment and if a measure giving the right t< work, or in default, unemployment allow ance, would be introduced. Seemingly Mr Fraser’s faith in the Government is small, for he himself gave notice of an Unemployed Workers Bill. The first Bill of which notice was given, however, was Mr Howard’s Workers’ Compensation Amendment. Apparently other members of the Labour Party also considered that the speech from the Throne did not cover the whole field of necessary legislation for they suggested several other Bills, including Stone Quarries Amendment (Mr Parry) and Hotel and Restaurants Six Days’ Week Bill (Mr Fraser). The only measure that had a hearing on the day, however, was Mr Massey’s Expiring Laws Continuance Bill which was read a first time, because it is necessary under the standing orders that some legislative business shall be done. Afore interesting to members was the fact that the leader of the Opposition gave notice to move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, and Mr Holland followed by giving notice to move an amendment to the motion to go into committee on the Imprest Supply Bill. As the Address-in-Reply will not commence till next week, and supply must be voted before the end of this week, the Labour amendment will require to be dealt with first. That was all the business done in the House. The Legislative Council having heard the speech from the Throne made pleasant speeches congratulating Sir W. Fraser, who was in the seat of the Leader of the Council and then adjourned. FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association )

MELBOURNE, June 28. The Federal Parliament was openoc with all the pre-war ceremonial. Tin Governor-General’s speech foreshadowec rigid economy in the public service anc administration generally, the extension o commercial aviation services, and amend ments to the constitution to extend tin Federal powers. Although the revenue for the year will exceed the estimates, nc taxation relief is indicated. Other legislation proposed includes the granting ol representation in Parliament to the Northern Territory, amendments to the Arbitration Act, and the rapid settlement of Canberra, the Federal capital. The Governor-General’s speech mentioned that negotiations were progressing with New Zealand and Canada for conclusion of reciprocal tariff arrangements. It was stated that experience had proved the necessity for the continuous representation of Australia in the United States, therefore it was proposed to appoint an Australian Commissioner. Mr Hughes moved the House’s sincere regret at the death of Mr F. Tudor. After tributes by the various Party leaders, the House adjourned till the following day as a mark of respect to his memory.